Foldable sofa bed and lock therefor



May l5, 1956 R. cooPERsMlTH FOLDABLE SOFA BED AND LOCK THEREFOR 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1953 May 15, 1956 R. cooPERsMlTH 2,745,113

FOLDABLE SOFA BED AND LOCK THEREFOR Filed May 13, 1955 4Sheer.s-S`nee*rI 2 f MVN/me.'

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May 15 1956 R. cooPERsMl-n-l 2,745,113

FOLDABLE SOFA BED AND LOCK THEREFOR Filed May 13. 1953 4 Sheets-S'neet 3May 15, 1956 R. cooPl-:RsMl'rH 2,745,113

F'LDABLE SOFA BED AND LOCK THEREF'OR Filed May l5. 1953 4 Sheets-3h98?,4

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United States Patent' FLDABLE SF BED AND LCK THEREFR RudolphCoopersmith, Clayton, Mio. Application May 13, 19.53., Serial No..354,687

9 Claims. (Cl. 5-31) This invention relates to foldable sofa bedcombinations and particularly to foldable mechanisms including lockingmeans therefor constituting an improvement over a prior application ofRudolph Coopersmith, filed August 16, 1952, bearing Serial Number304,784, y now abandoned, and entitled Locking Mechanism for FoldableFurniture Frame. i

An object of this invention is'to provide an improved foldable sofa bedhaving a foldable frame incorporating a supporting member and a lock forretaining the frame in folded position. l

Another object of this invention resides in the. foldable frame and lockmeans arranged to retain the frame when folded and to automaticallyrelease the frame uponfunfolding actuation thereof.

A further object resides iny the provision of a mattress supportingframe capable of folding with the mattress and of locking the frame andmattress in folded position so that the folded mattress may be utilizedas the seat of the assembly.

The invention consists in a multi-section foldable frame for acombination sofa and bed, leg means automatically moved into framesupporting position when the frame is unfolded, and locking means forretaining the frame in folded condition, but releasable upon unfoldingof the frame, whereby the assembly may be more easily operatedandpossible damage to the parts of the frame avoided.

The invention also consists inthe parts and combination of partshereinafter to be particularly described and pointed out in connectionwith an assembly presently preferred and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational View of the frame'for a sofa bed in itsunfolded position as a bed,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the sofa bed frame shown in itsfolded position to function as a sofa,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a portion of the frame inits unfolded position to illustrate a frame supporting leg and lock,

Fig. 4 is a top View of the frame portion shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing a partly foldedpositio-n thereof,

Fig. 6 is a further view of fragmentary portions of the frame in nearlycompletely folded position,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View of the frame in the fully folded positionof a portion of the frame,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the fully folded frame portion incondition for the final movement thereof into the sofa frame structure,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View of the folded frame portion in conditionto'b'e withdrawn for unfolding, and unlocking,

Fig. l() is a side elevational view of a frame assembly for a sofa bedin its unfolded position to act as a bed,

2. and `in which amodied arrangement ofl parts is disclosed,

Fig. l1 is a fragmentaryy portion in elevation of the sofa bed assemblyshown in'Fig.v 10,

Fig. 12 isa further fragmentary portion in elevation of the sofa bed ofFig. 10, but shown in folded position,

Fig. 1-3 is'a view similar to Fig. l2 in which a modified locking deviceis disclosed,

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the locking andunlocking means in position similar to that in Fig. 9, but at adifferent stage in its operation,

Fig. 15 is an end elevational-view of the assembly shown in Fig. 13.yalong the line 15-15 thereof, and

Fig; 16 isa greatlyenlarged but fragmentary view of the assembly shownin Fig. l2.

inthe prior `application of Rudolph Coopersmith bearing SerialNumber-304,784, the sofa bed construction is provided with ay supportingleg for the outer end of the frame when inthe bed forming position, andthe supporting' leg carries a locking device which moves intooperative'position for retaining the bed frame in its .folded sofaforming position. While this locking device is advantageous and new inthe art, the locking device mustbe manually adjusted into its unlockedposition when unfolding the frame, 'i The device herein disclosedconstitutes an improvement in that it is automatically actuated into itsVunlocked'position by the act of unfolding the frame into its bedformingposition.

The present' foldable sofa bed construction is more fully shown anddescribed, as to details ofl the means and provisions for supporting yafoldable mattress, in a cti-pending` patent application of RudolphCoopersmith,

kbearing Seriai'Number 67,183, tiled December 24, 1948,

and entitled Sofa Bed. It is'only necessary here to describe thev frameportionsk which relate to the present improvements, and reference may behad to the co-pending application for further details of the completeassembly. v

VThe following description will, for convenience, relate to the severalparts ofl the foldable sofa bed structure at one side thereof, and it isunderstood that the structure has identical counterparts for theopposite lside.

Moreover, the description of parts for thesofa .bed shownin` Fig. 1 andythe reference numerals identifying such parts will be applied to thesimilar parts for the sofa bed shownl in Fig. vl0, as the structure ofboth sofa beds is essentiallyv the same.

11 is provided with a front partial upholstery board 15 Fig. 2 to form aspring edge for the sofa. The box which cooperates with a movableupholstery board 16 when the frame is folded into the position of Fig.2.

The mattress (not shown) is adapted to be carried on a multi-section bedframe structure B consisting of the frame sections `17, 18, 19 and 2t).Frame section 17 includes the sidemember 21 connected to a bracket arm22 extending at an angle to the main bracket 23 which, in turn, ispivotally supported in a support 24 iixed in the back frame 14. 'Theouter end of member 21 is pivotally connected with the adjacent end ofside member 25 of the frame section 18. Side member `2S extendsforwardly and is vpivotally connected with the adjacent end of a sidemember 26 of the frame section 19. The latter section 19 carries a boxframe structure 27 for the support of a plurality of coiled springs 28which extend across the front of the assembly when in the foldedpositionof frame 27 also carries the upholstery board 16.

Frame section 20 is provided with a side member 30 having one endpivotally connected with the outer end of W Patented May `15, 1955 iside member 26 forthe frame section 19, and its outer end finished by atransverse rail 31 extending across the width of the assembly. The framesection 20 is provided with a supporting leg 32 having the floorengaging foot element 33, and the leg 32 is pivoted at 34 to the sidemember 3l) adjacent the rail 31. A support 35 (Figs. l and 3) iixed tothe upper end of leg 32 is directed at right angles thereto and parallelwith the sidemember 35. Support 35 carries a lockingelement 36 pivotedat 37 thereto for limited pivoting movement by means of a pin 38 fixedin the support 35 and extending into a short slot 39 formed in thelocking element 36 near one end thereof. The element 36 is provided witha notch 4Q in one edger and a beveled nose 41 for a purpose presently tobe described. A latch actuating element 42 is pivoted on the element 36(Figs. l and 3) at pin 43 and extends at right angles to the element 36in its normal position. The locking'element 36 is urged in one directionof its movement about the pivot piu 37 by a suitable spring 44 anchoredon the element 36 at pin 46 .and on the fixed support 35 at pin 47, sothat the notch 49 is normally adjacent the end 45 of support 35. Thelatch actuator element 42 normally rests against a stop pin i8 insupport 35, and is provided with an angular edge 49, as will bedescribed presently.

The means for controlling the folding and unfolding actuation of leg 32comprises a lever 5t) pivoted at pin 51 to the upper end of the leg 32and pivoted at 52 to the side member 26 of frame section 19 inwardly ofthe pivot element 53 connecting frame sections 19 and 2t?, as best seenin Figs. 3 and 4. Since the pivots 52 and 53 are spaced apart, it willbe appreciated that folding action of side member 3i) relative to sidemember 26 will cause pivoting movement of leg 32 and also angularmovement of the support 35, as best seen in Fig. 5.

The intermediate frame section 1S is supported by a foldable leg 55having the door engaging end element 56 thereon. Leg 55 is pivoted at`57 to the side member 25 inwardly of the pivot 54 connecting framesections 18 and 19, and a leg folding lever is pivotally connectedthereto at pin 59 below the pivot 57. 'Folding lever 58 is pivoted at 6@to the outer end portion of a lever member 61, and this lever 61 is, inturn, pivoted at 62 to the side member 25 intermediate its length. Aholding spring 63 of heavy capacity is anchored to one end of thefolding lever 58 and its opposite end is fixed in a diagonal brace 64 ofa stationary angle bracket 65 carried by the boxlike frame 11 near theupholstery board 15. Lever 61 is pivoted at 66 to the bracket 65, andits outer end is connected to a longitudinally and angular-ly movableunlocking link 67 at pivot 68 adjacent the pivot 60 for the leg foldinglever 58. A bracket '76 fixed on side member 25 carries a pin 71 whichrides in a longitudinal slot 72 formed in the link 67, so that link 67has both longitudinal and angular movement controlled by the pivotingmotion of lever 61. The free end 73 of link 67, in the position shown inFig. l, is adjacent a seat type bracket 74 xed on side member 25adjacent bracket 76. Bracket 74 is provided with a seat plate 75 whichsupports the end 45 of the latch support 35 when the frame sections arefolded, as in Fig. 2.

The folding operation of the mechanism will now be described, andreference will be made to various views of the drawings, beginning withFigs. l and 5. The transverse rail 31 at the outer end of the assemblyis raised so that the side member 30 pivots about pin 53 (Fig. 5). Thiscauses relative motion of link 5l) about its pivot pin 52, resulting ina thrust on the upper end of leg 32 to rotate the leg and the latchsupport 35 in a direction opposite to the direction of pivoting movementfor side member 30, the latter being indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5.Thus, frame section 26 folds relative to frame section 19 until themember 30 abuts one end of stop element 73 which is reached when framesectionsf20 and 19 are substantially in right angular (Fig. 2) position.Thereafter, frame sections 20 and 19 fold together about the pivot 54until the opposite end of stop element abuts the side member 25 'offrame section 18. At this time (Fig. 6), link 5@ has completed itsaction on the leg 32 so that the latter is folded adjacent side member3l) and the latch support 35 is outwardly directed into its operatingposition. Also, the frame sections 20 and 1S are substantially parallel,with the frame section 20 spaced above frame section ,1S a distancematching the iength of the stop element 7S. This folding operationexposes the springs 2S and upholstery board 16 at the front of theassembly. It is, of course, understood that a mattress (not shown) willnow assume a folded position, with the fold adjacent frame section 19.

In the View of Fig. 6, the support 35 locates locking element 36 and itsactuator element 42 adjacent the bracket 74 and unlocking link 67. Thearrow in Fig. 6 indicates the direction of linal folding motion of framesection 20, and Fig. 7 illustrates the automatic latching operation ofthese parts. As there shown, actuator element 42 has its angular edge 49in abutment with the angularly turned end 73 of link 67 so that theelement 42 pivots upwardly, thereby allowing locking element 36 todescend and move from its full line to its broken line position. Thelatter motion of element 36 is caused by its beveled nose 41 strikingthe edge of seat 75, and is limited by the length of slot 39 and pin 38.Element 36 is also under the influence and is opposed by spring 44. Now,the locking element 36 is free to pass the seat 75 of bracket 74 so thatnotch 4t) may snap over the adjacent edge of seat 75 to retain the end45 of the latch support 35 upon the face of this seat for spacing andholding the frame sections 20 and 18 against crushing loads on amattress (not shown) folded therebetween when the assembly is utilizedas a sofa. The foregoing will become clear upon further reference toFig. 14.

The assembly is now ready for the linal folding operation which isaccomplished by substantially simultaneously lifting and pushinginwardly on the upholstery board 16 against the force of the counterbalancing spring 63. The result of this operation is that the framesection 1S pivots at pin 79 and lever member 61 pivots at 66 to causeside member 25 to assume a downwardly and rearwardly in clined position(Fig. 8), as frame section 17 starts its pivoting motion at bracket 24through the swinging motion of member 23. The pivoting of lever member61 at pivot 66 and also at pivot 62 in side member 25 forces link 58 tofold leg 55 upwardly and rearwardly against the force of the holdingspring 63.

The angular pitch of frame sections 2li and 18 (Fig. 8) is guided bymember 23 and frame section 17 underneath the back frame 14 of thestructure 11. As lever member 61 swings about pivot 66, the unlockinglink 67 slides and pivots about pin '71 in bracket 7@ so that its freeend moves rearwardly of the actuator 42. The nal folded position of theassembly is shown in Fig. 2, and suitable sofa cushions (not shown) maybe placed on the upper face of frame section 20 and against the backframe 14.

The unfolding operation to convert the sofa into its bed form is carriedout by substantially reversing the previously described operations. Afeature of this assembly is seen to reside in the means forautomatically locking the frame section 20 in its folded position and toprevent crushing the folded mattress (not shown) by utilizing thelocking support 35 to support also the otherwise free end (at transversemember 31) of side member 30 at a fixed distance from side member 25.The portion of a mattress (not shown) supported by frame section 17,when the assembly is used as a bed (Fig. l), moves to the lower rearportion of frame 11 when the conversion to a sofa (Fig. 2) is made.

A further feature of the assembly is shown in Fig. 9, where automaticunlocking of element 36 takes place during the operation of withdrawingthe folded frame sections 2li and 18 toward the position in Fig. 8. Atthis time, unlocking link 67 is caused to move from the position of Fig.2 into the position of Fig. 9 by motion of lever member 61, to which itis pivotally connected at pin 68. Lever member 61 pivots at pin 62relative to side member 25 in the direction of the arrow. The end 73 oflink 67 is bent at right angles to link 67 so that it hooks over theedge of actuator 42 and draws this part back along the stop pin 48, sothat the latch element 36 is pivoted about its pivot 43 in element 36into the position Where notch 4t) is free of the seat 75. This is causedto occur at the proper time in the unfolding operation, such that thetransverse member 31 may move upwardly to clear the back frame 14 underthe resilient reaction or spring-back of the folded mattress (not shown)when the latch element 36 is moved to unlatched position by link 67.Thereafter, the unfolding operation may be continued Without the need,as is found in prior construction, of the user moving to each side ofthe frames and separately manually unlatching the frame sections, suchas sections 20 and 1S.

Fig. 14, when taken with Figs. 7-9, shows the relative location of theunlocking link 67 to the several parts and elements of the lockingmeans. For example, bracket 70 is secured at the inside of the sideangle member 25 adjacent bracket 74, but the bracket 74 has a seat plate75 extending at right angles to and outwardly of the member 25 with itsouter end turned upwardly to form a flange. Link 67 is located at theoutside of bracket 70 with its end 73 turned out into the plane of theelement 42 and is held by pin 71 above the seat plate 75. Element 42 islocated at the outer side of link 67, and the parts 35 and 36 are on theoutside of element 42 so that no interference occurs with or is causedby link 67.

Referring now to Figs. 10, 11 and l2, the modified sofa frame Scomprises the previously described side structure 10, the principalframe 11, supporting legs 12 and 13, and the back frame 14. Frame 11is'provided with the partial upholstery board 15 which cooperates With amovable upholstery board 16 when the frame is folded intothe sofaforming position, as in Fig. 2.

A multi-section bed forming frame B consists of the v previouslydescribed frame sections 17, 13, 19 and 20.

Section 17 includes the side member 21 connected to a bracket arm 22extending at an angle to the main bracket 23 which, in turn, ispivotally connected to the support 24 carried in the back frame 14. Theouter end of member 21 is pivotally connected at 79 with the adjacentend of side member 25 of section 18. Member 25 extends into pivotalconnection at 54vwith the adjacent end of the side member 26 of thesection 19. Section 19 carries a box frame 27 for the support of aplurality of coiled springs 28 which extend across the front of theassembly in the folded sofa forming position of Fig. 2 to form a springedge for the sofa. Box frame 27 also carries the upholstery board 16.

As heretofore described, frame section 20 has the side member 30pivotally connected at 53 with the outer end of side member 26 forsection 19, and the outer end of member 3@ is finished by a transverserail 31. Section 2t) (Figs. l2 and 16) has a supporting leg 32 pivotedat 34 on the member 31B. The support 35 is fixed adjacent the pivot 34to the leg 32. Support 35 carries a locking element 36 pivoted at 37thereto for limited angular movement by means of a pin 38 in the support35 moving in a slot 39 in the locking element 36. Element 36 has thenotch 4@ and a beveled nose 41, and an actuating element 42 is pivotedon element 36 at pin 43. The element 36 is urged in one direction by aspring 44 anchored between a pin 46 on element 36 and a pin 47 onthesupport 35, and a spring 80 (shown best in Fig. 16) retains element42 in abutment with a stop pin 4S in support 35 so that element 42 ispositioned at right angles to the element,36,`but allows element 42 toyield when engaged at 49.

The means for controlling the folding and unfolding actuation of leg 32comprises a lever 50 pivoted at pin 51 to the upper end of the leg 32and pivoted at 52 to the side member 26 of frame section 19 inwardly ofthe pivot element 53 conne-:ting frame sections 19 and 20, as best seenin Figs. 3 and 4. Since the pivots 52 and 53 are spaced apart, it willbe appreciated that folding action of side member 30 relative to sidemember 26 will cause pivoting 4movement of leg 32 and also angularmovement of the support 35, as best seen in Fig. 5. The intermediateframe section 13 is supported by a foldable leg 55 having the floorengaging end element 56 thereon. Leg 55 is pivotedat 57 to the sidemember 25 inwardly of the pivot 54 connecting frame sections 18 and 19,and a leg folding lever 58 is pivotally connected thereto at pin 59below the pivot 57. Folding lever 53 is pivoted at 66 to the outer endportion of a lever member 61, and this lever 61 is, in turn, pivoted at62 to the side member 25 intermediate its length. A holding spring -63of heavy capacity is anchored to one end of the folding lever 58 and itsopposite end is fixed in a diagonal brace 64 of a stationary anglebracket 65 carried by the box-like frame 11 near the upholstery vboard15.

The lever 61 is pivoted at 66 tothe bracket 65 at pin 66, and its outerend is connected by pin 63 to a modi lied longitudinally and angulariymovable unlocking link 67. This link 67 is formed with an angularlydirected end portion S2 adjacentthe pivot 68. A modified bracket 76fixed on the outer side of side member 25 is formed with an elongatedslot 72 to receive and guide the pin 71 `carried in the adjacent endportion of link 67. The slot 'i2' determines the movement of link 67 inthe directionk of the bracketl 7d. ln the bed forming position of thebed structure B', the out turned free end 73' of link 67 is locatedadjacent a seat type bracket 74 also fixed to the outer side of sidemember25 with the bracket 79T. The bracket 74 projects outwardly (likebracket 74, Fig. 14) and has a seat '75 which is adapted to be engagedby the end of latch support 35 when the frame sections are folded,as inFig. l2, to the sofa forming position. The spring 80 holds element 42 inproper position which is against the stop pin 4S.

The folding operation of the modified assembly is similar to theassembly `of Fig. 1, except that the link 67 has the motion shown in thefull line and broken line views of Fig. l2. Thus, the free end 73 ofthis link 67 is maintained closely adjacent the outer side of bracket'70', and the link 67 does not attain the angular position assumedbylink 67 as in Fig. 2. v'1" his motion avoids having link 67 move into aposition Where it might cause damage to the mattress (not shown). lnother respects. line 67 acts in like manner so that its end 73 operatesthe element 42 for releasing the latch 36 automatically, as the bedstructure B is unfolded.

A further modified form of latch device is shown in Fig. 13 and in Fig.15, and like parts will be designated, wherever possible, in accordancewith the foregoing description. rl`he side member 30 of section 2li)carries the leg 32 pivoted at pin 34, and folding link 56 is pivoted at51 to this leg. A modified support 83 is fixed to the leg 32, and thissupportA 83 carries the latch element 36' at pivot 37. A pin 38 in thesupport 83 engages in a slot 39 4formed in andv adapted to limit motionof element 36. In this case the arrangement is such that the spring 44may be anchored at pin 47 in the support S3 and they opposite endengaged with the pin 46 in the actuating element 42. Further, theactuating element 42 is piv oted at pin 84 in element 36 and has limitedangular movement underthe control of a pin v85' in element 36' engagingin a slot 86 in thek element 42. Spring'44 serves the dual function ofpositioning latch element 36 about its pivot 37 to one limit of slot 39,and of positioning the actuating element 42 at one end of the slot 86,whereby spring opposed limited motion of these parts is possible.Heretofore, two springs 44 and 80 have been shown in the modifiedassembly of Fig. ll, and in Figs. 3 and 7 the element 42 is dependentupon the effect of gravity to maintain it in proper position. Theadvantages of the dual function spring 4d are positive positioning ofboth parts 36 and 42 and a simple and economical assembly. Otherportions of the fragmentary disclosure of Fig. l3 are substantially likethose described for Fig. l2. A further feature of the element 3o residesin the provision of a narrow width notch dii which is formed with oneedge 8'7 adapted to engage the upper surface of seat 75 of bracket 74',thereby making it possible to reduce the length of support 83 withconsequent savings in weight at no sacrifice in the rigid character ofthis part. The seat 75 is provided with an outer upturned flange to holdthe edge 7 against outward movement.

With any of the present latch means it is pointed out that the foldablesections are heldin a predetermined spaced relation so that thetransverse rail 3l may freely move or pass under the back frame 145without obstruction. Thus it is possible now to employ an inner springmattress, or a mattress of increased thickness. Such a mattress in priorsofa bedscould be used only with great difficulty as the resistance tofolding prevented clearance at the back frame ld, and the spring-backtendency defeated the desired operation. The present sofa bedconstruction avoids all of these difficulties and provides a positivemeans for holding the frame sections as desired at all times.

The foregoing has described a preferred embodiment of the invention, andit will be observed that a simplified folding assembly with bothautomatic latching and unlatching means has been provided in an easilyoperated and trouble free mechanism. it is, of course, understood thatcertain modifications of the automatic means in addition to those hereindisclosed may be made without departing from the scope of the presentimprovement.

What is claimed is:

l. A sofa bed comprising: a sofa frame; a bed frame pivotally secured atone end to said sofa frame and comprising a series of pivotallyconnected sections foldable within said sofa frame into a seat formingarrangement, said bed frame being also unfoldable into a bed formingarrangement in which the sections extend in substantial alignment witheach other, the seat forming arrangement providing a first sectionextending horizontally in position to serve as a support for seatcushions and having a free end and another substantially horizontallyextending section parallel to and spaced below said first section; latchmeans pivotally mounted on said first section near the free end thereofand extending into engagement with said spaced second section forreleasably retaining said first section and second section in spacedrelation; a link connected with said second section and movable relative'to said second section to engage said latch means; and a lever memberpivotally` connected with said sofa frame and said second section andhaving a connection with said link, said lever member moving in apredetermined direction on unfolding movement of said bed frame andhaving relative movement with respect to said second section effectivefor operating said link to engage and release said latch means to permitunfolding of said bed frame into its bed forming arrangement.

2. A sofa bed comprising: a sofa frame; a plurality of foldablyconnected frame sections constituting a bed frame movably connectedadjacent the inner end of one section to said sofa frame for swingingdisplacement of the folded sections into and out of said sofa frame,said bed frame including intermediate frame'sections foldaoly connectedand an outer section foldably connected to one of said intermediatesections, said outer section having a free outer end; a leg pivotallyconnected adjacent the said outer end of said outer section of said bedframe for supporting the latter; latch mechanism carried by said leg formovement therewith; a leg pivoting link pivoted on one of saidintermediate sections of said bed frame and on said leg; a bracketcarried on one of said intermediate sections of Said bed frameintermediate its inner and outer ends, the folding of said bed framesections into said sofa frame causing said leg pivoting link to foldsaid leg and move said latch mechanism into position toengage saidbracket and hold said outer section and intermediate sections of saidbed frame in folded relation, said latch mechanism automaticallylatching with said bracket in the folded relation of said bed framesections; and vunlatching means operatively connected with one of saidintermediate bed frame sections and said sofa frame to `unlatch saidlatch mechanism upon unfolding of said bed frame sections.

3. A sofa bed comprising: a sofa frame; a bed frame pivotally secured atone end to said sofa frame and including a series of pivotally connectedsections foldable into said sofa frame into a seat forming arrangement,said bed frame being also unfoldable into a bed forming arrangement inwhich the sections extend outwardly in substantially extended alignmentwith each other, the seat forming arrangement providing a first sectionin horizontal position to serve as a support for seat cushions andhaving a free end and a second section substantially parallel with andspaced below said first section; a supporting leg pivoted to the freeend of said first section; an unfolding link connected between said legand another Section of said bed frame for locating said leg adjacentsaid first section-in the seat forming arrangement of said bed frame;latch means connected to said leg and extending at right angles theretoand said first section for engaging said second section to retain saidfirst and second sections in fixed spaced relation; a lever memberpivotally connected with said sofa frame and said second section forelevating said latter section in the bed forming arrangement; and anunlatching link connected with said lever member and positioned adjacentsaid latch means for automatically unlatching the latter upon unfoldingof said bed frame into its bed forming arrangement, said unfolding linkoperating upon relative pivoting of said first section and said anothersection to swing said leg into extended position at right angles to saidrst section for supporting the free end of said latter section in thebed forming arrangement and swinging said latch means adjacent saidfirst section.

4. The sofa bed set forth in claim 3, wherein said latch means includesa support fixed to said leg and a latch element pivoted to said supportfor limited movement relative to Said support, said latch element havinga notch therein; and a seat on said second section engaged by saidnotch.

5. The sofa bed set forth in claim 3, wherein said second section isprovided with a seat engaged by said latch means in the seat formingarrangement of said foldable bed frame, and a bracket is carried by saidsecond section adjacent said seat, said unlatching link beingoperatively connected to said bracket for guiding said unlatching linkin its unlatching operation of said latch means.

6. The sofa bed set forth in claim 5, wherein said latch means includesa notched latch element engageable with said seat, and a latch operatingelement carried by said latch element in position to be engaged by saidunlatching link to withdraw said notched latch element from engagementwith said seat upon unfolding of said bed frame into its bed formingarrangement.

7. A sofa bed comprising: a sofa frame; a bed frame foldable into saidsofa frame from an unfolded extended bed forming arrangement, said bedframe including a lirst frame section swingably connected to said sofaframe for movement into and out of said sofa frame, and a second framesection operatively connected to said first frame section for foldingmovement relative to the latter frame section into a substantiallyparallel position but spaced therefrom; latch means operatively carriedon one of said frame sections and including a support, a notched elementpivoted to said support, an actuator element pivoted to said notchedelement, said elements having limited movement, and resilient meansconnected to said elements for yicldingly urging them into one positionof limited movement to engage said notched element with the other ofsaid frame sections; and unlatching means carried on the other of saidframe sections in position to operate said latch means by said actuatorelement against said resilient means toward another position of limitedmove ment to disengaged position.

8. A sofa bed comprising: a sofa frame; a bed frame foldable into saidsofa frame from an unfolded extended bed forming arrangement, said bedframe including a irst frame section swingably connected to said sofaframe for movement into and out of said sofa frame, and a second framesection operably connected to said rst frame section for foldingmovement relative to the latter frame section into a substantiallyparallel position but spaced therefrom; latch means operatively mountedon one of said frame sections and including a support, a notched elementpivoted on said support for limited movement between latched andunlatched positions, an actuator elcment pivoted on said notched elementfor limited displacement relative thereto between operative andinoperative positions, and spring means connected between said supportand one of said elements for normally yieldingly retaining said elementsrespectively in said latched and operative positions; and cooperatingunlatching means on the other of said frame sections movable uponunfolding of said bed frame to engage said actuator element and displacethe same and move said notched element to unlatched position.

9. A sofa bed comprising: a sofa frame; a bed frame foldable into saidsofa frame from an unfolded extended bed forming arrangement, said bedframe including a rst frame section swingably lconnected to said sofaframe for movement into and out of said sofa frame, and a second framesection connected to said first frame section for folding movementrelative to the latter frame section into a substantially parallelposition but spaced therefrom; latch means operatively mounted on one ofsaid frame sections and including a support, a notched element pivotedon said support for limited movement between latched and unlatchedpositions, an actuator element pivoted on said notched element forlimited displacement rel alive thereto between operative and inoperativepositions, and spring means connected between said support and one ofsaid elements for normally yieldingly retaining said elementsrespectively in said latched and operative positions; seat means on theother of said frame sections engaged by said notched element and bywhich the said frame sections are retained in spaced relation with oneedge of the notch in said notched element resting upon said seat meansfor the latched position thereof; and cooperating7 means adjacent saidseat means adapted to engage said actuator element in its operativeposition for moving said notched element to its unlatched position.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,057,665 Pease Apr. 1, 1913 1,081,272 Klopping Dec. 9, 1913 1,120,911Davis Dec. 15, 1914 1,136,173 Seng et al Apr. 20, 1915 1,143,974Klopping June 22, 1915 1,210,432 De Does Ian. 2, 1917 1,265,073 Freedmanet al May 7, 1918 1,267,399 Goldstein May 28, 1918 2,656,547 Winikotl'Oct. 27, 1953 2,676,335 Goodman Apr. 27, 1954

